Remember Little Millie from Jamaica and the song "My Boy Lollipop"?
Always wondered what happened to her, she made a few more songs than what I thought, (also appeared in an episode of Miami Vice) here's her most famous song, reached No 1 on Ozzie music chart;
In late 1963 she went to Forest Hill, London, to make her fourth recording, an Ernest Ranglin rearrangement of "My Boy Lollipop", originally released by Barbie Gaye in late 1956. Released in March 1964, Small's cover was a massive hit, reaching number two both in the UK Singles Chart[2] and in the U.S.Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the chart in Australia. Initially it sold over 600,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[3] Including singles sales, album usage and compilation inclusions, the song has since sold more than seven million copies worldwide.[1][4] She also had minor UK hits with two follow-up singles, peaking at number 30 with "Sweet William" and number 48 with "Bloodshot Eyes".
"My Boy Lollipop" was doubly significant in Britishpop music history. It was the first major hit for Island Records (although it was actually released via Fontana Records because Chris Blackwell, Island's owner, did not want to overextend the label's then-meagre resources; in the U.S. the record appeared on the Smash Records subsidiary of Mercury Records), and Small was the first artist to have a hit that was recorded in the bluebeat style. (She was billed as "The Blue Beat Girl" on the single's label in the U.S.)[1] This was a music genre that had recently emerged from Jamaica, and was a direct ancestor of reggae.
Millie continued to tour and perform up to the early 1970s.
On 6 August 2011, being the 49th anniversary of the country's independence, the Governor-General of Jamaica conferred the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) upon Millicent (Millie) Dolly May Small, for her contribution to the Jamaican music industry.[5] The award was accepted on her behalf by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga.[6]
In July 2012 she stated that she had been recording again and planned to perform in Jamaica for the first time in over 40 years.[6]
She lived in Singapore from 1971 to 1973 before returning to the UK which is now her home.[8] She has an adult daughter, who studied art and the music industry.[8]
Millie was not a one-hit wonder. For example, subsequent recordings such as "Sweet William" and "Bloodshot Eyes", both charted in the UK at numbers 30 and 48, respectively.[2]
-- Edited by Duh on Saturday 6th of April 2013 11:30:40 AM